The Columbus Police Department protects the 15th largest city in America. This week we ask you to pray for the Columbus Police Department and for Chief Walter L. Distelzweig. For the next 14 weeks Ten-Four Ministries will be contacting the police chiefs in the largest 50 cities in America and presenting them with The Gospel. This is an ongoing project called The Across America Project.
Some say there is nothing that is free and Christians know otherwise. I recently met a man that has an incredible gift. A vivid expositor of scriptures along with an incredible ability to write. Pastor Doug Renne' has taken his God gifted talent and produced several publications. He spent massive resources to enable him to offer these books free of charge. He even offers them in bulk to pastors.
I was taken back when Doug shared one of his books with me and he told me they were just sitting in his basement because his website no longer worked. Well, that is taken care of and Doug's site is back up offering his publications free of charge as a download and at a small fee if you want them printed.
I love guys like Doug and there are thousands of them around us. Faithful men and women of Christ taking there talents and using them in a humble fashion (sometimes just items sitting in a basement) to further the Gospel.
Let me encourage you to visit Doug's site, send him a note of encouragement and if you are able, help him financially with what he has done. Ten-Four Ministries hopes to ensure that these wonderful writings never go out of print.
We just received a wonderful resource by Mark Cahill and are offered at a price of just $10 in our store. This is a wonderful book to give to an unbeliever. Mark has a passion for Law Enforcement and there have been many officers that have received this book.
You can order this book here along with free shipping.
We have several specials in our store through Christmas which include low prices on our favorite resources for witnessing to others.
Until Christmas day we are offering free shipping on all products and we have an all-time low price on our favorite resource for police officers, Take Up The Shield.
Seminole County Sheriff Shannon Smith lost two deputies to gunfire. He grieves for them every day and wonders if they had bullet proof vests, if they would have had a chance to survive.
Officer Renfro used to patrol the town of Porter without any protections but thanks to the Armor of God Project, he has a bullet proof vest. Officer Renfro said that's a relief for him and his family. Enlarge this picture
The Armor of God Project is a non-profit organization that takes old and unused vests and distributes them to officers in need. They even do next day shipping because they understand what a difference a day can make. By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9
OKLAHOMA CITY -- We expect our law enforcement to protect us, but who is protecting them? The Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police say 40 percent of all city police departments do not have bullet proof vests because they can’t afford them.
Out of Oklahoma’s 77 sheriff’s departments, the overwhelming majority have to depend on grants. The grants generally only cover half the cost and are not always available.
Seminole County Sheriff Shannon Smith knows that pain. The moments his two deputies were shot and killed in July replay like nightmares he can’t shake.
“I think about it at least once a day, at least once a day,” said Sheriff Smith.
Neither Captain Marvin Williams nor Deputy Chase Whitebird were wearing bullet proof vests the day they were ambushed by a gunman. They would have been wearing them, but they didn’t have vests of their own.
“Budgets just don’t allow for this type of safety equipment. It’s just too expensive,” Sheriff Smith said.
It’s a problem a young officer from Porter knows all too well. He patrols the streets for the town of 550.
“They don’t generate enough revenue to purchase every officer a bullet proof vest,” said Officer Renfro.
The fact that officers like Renfro have to walk the streets without the insurance needed weighs heavily on Travis Yates. The Tulsa officer has helped start what’s called The Armor of God Project.
“It’s a matter of life and death. I mean I’ve never been a part of something like this where it’s literally a matter of life and death,” Yates said.
The project is shared with a lieutenant named Clint Reck in Alabama. That’s where the program’s warehouse holds hundreds of bullet proof vests that are just waiting to save a life.
“We’ve had departments tell us we burn our vests or we turn them into tires. Those departments need to say ‘We’ve got to help others.’” Yates said.
That’s what the Armor of God project is about. A bullet proof vest costs anywhere from $500 to thousands of dollars, but departments that are lucky enough to have funding for vests have to get rid of them after the 5 year manufacturer warranty expires.
“Everybody’s worried about liability in this country and we’ve got officers here working without vests,” said Clint Reck.
The project collects the vests that would otherwise be thrown away and gives them to guys like Officer Renfro who has no qualms about accepting a hand-me-down. It’s more protection than he’s ever had or likely will.
“They are giving me a chance to come home to my family every single night no matter what happens. This is a relief. I feel relief. That goes for my wife, my new baby, my mom, and my dad,” Officer Renfro said, holding back tears.
The chance to fight for life is very real. Two lives have already been saved by the project that is still in its infancy.
“About 70 percent of the vests given to us are in better shape or the same shape that I wear every day. Often times, the vests we get are from guys that have desk duty in big departments. They are brand new,” Yates said. “Think about it. Everything has a warranty. Your T.V. has a warranty. Our cars have warranties. They don’t stop working the day the warranty expires. We’ve taken these vests. We’ve shot them. They work. Like I said, two lives have already been saved.”
Without help, small departments have to rely on grants to get vests. The grant pays half and the department pays half. That was the case with Seminole County. The department had been approved. The deputies had been measured. However, the money did not arrive in time.
“I would give anything for those guys to have had good vests on that day. If we could’ve gotten it the day of, it may have been different,” Sheriff Smith said.
His department’s vests have finally come in, but Smith had to make the difficult call of canceling the ones that were supposed to go to the two men who lost their lives in July. He considers Captain Marvin Williams’ and Deputy Chase Whitebird’s families and grieves for them every day. Although it’s unclear if vests would have made a difference, Smith said he would’ve liked them to have had the chance.
“That’s the one thing I would like to come out of this whole deal is something to be done to help other officers so these guys don’t die in vain. I wouldn’t want anybody to have to go through the grief we’re going through…the grief now and in the years to come,” said Sheriff Smith.
Funding levels are unlikely to change for Oklahoma law enforcement, especially in the currently tough economic situation. It’s why law enforcement leaders say they hope communities will take charge. It’s believed most people don’t realize that their officers and deputies may be going to work without the protection they need.
Some communities have gathered to host fundraisers to help buy their departments vests. Others will likely turn to the new option the Armor of God Project provides. The project is a non-profit and ships the vests the next day after paperwork is processed because they know what the difference of a day can mean on the job. It costs $11 to ship a vest and donations are appreciated.
Often times, Yates and Reck dip into their own pockets to ship the life savers. Learn how you can help the Armor of God Project.
The project actually started as a church project to help law enforcement in the Philippines. That was before they realized so many officers in our own country have to go unprotected. Any officer that gets a vest from the program does have to sign a liability waiver.
The Oklahoma Association of Police Chief also runs a surplus program to help departments.
The Austin Police Department protects the 16th largest city in America. This week we ask you to pray for the Austin Police Department and for Chief Art Acevedo. For the next 15 weeks Ten-Four Ministries will be contacting the police chiefs in the largest 50 cities in America and presenting them with The Gospel. This is an ongoing project called The Across America Project.
My good brother in Christ, fellow Law Enforcement Officer and Ten-Four Ministries Board Member Tom Brozycki discovered this video and posted it at his Ministry Site, Shields of the Shepherd. If you are in the Orange County, New York area, I highly recommend Tom's small group fellowship.
If you have followed Ten-Four Ministries for more than a week or so, you would know that we highly respect and endorse Pastor John Macarthur and one of the reasons we like him so much is his unwavering commitment to the truth.
Law Enforcement in particular has a nose for what is the truth versus what is a lie and that in and of itself is one of the huge stumbling blocks to Christianity by Law Enforcement.
From being in the profession for over 16 years, I can tell you that for the most part, the Christianity that Law Enforcement is confronted with is generally in one of two camps.
1. The local minister that instead of preaching God's Word, they stand up on Sunday and trash the Police for the latest "story" they may have heard in the community. This same minister will likely stand in front of news cameras or in front of a boycott line and you guessed it. Instead of proclaiming the Gospel, throw mud at the Police.
2. A Preacher that tells the Police, likely at a funeral of one of their own (since that is likely the only time most in Law Enforcement will enter a Church) that "there is a special place in Heaven for Law Enforcement Officers." or "Blessed are the Peacemakers, and you as Peacemakers are children of God."
Both items above are absolute junk and the lost Law Enforcement Officers I meet know it. They can smell a lie. It is there job.
So with that said, if you are new to our small ministry to the Nation's Finest, we will not mix words and we will call a heretic a heretic and a lie a lie. There are too many lies being told and they get in the way of what is truly important, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As you may suspect, there is more to come on this topic. This ministry is not in the business of doing things to just make folks "feel better". We want to tell you the truth. In a world where truth is one's opinion and simply "relative", we want to tell you the only truth that matters.
Truth
His name is Jesus Christ and he came to Earth more than 2000 years ago and lived among us but there was a difference between Him and the rest of the world. Jesus Christ was God and he left Heaven (John 8:58), humbled Himself and was born of a virgin. He was on an incredible journey. He healed the sick, raised the dead, walked on water, cast out demons, feed thousands with a few loaves of bread. he calmed the storms and confronted the heretics of His day. Simply put, this Man names Jesus did exactly what you would expect God to do if He came to earth as a Man.
Jesus Christ was God. You can deny Him, you can say that makes no sense but the truth is, Jesus did not do these things alone. There were hundreds of witnesses to what He did and more than just the Bible talks about them. Just a quick glance at the history books of the day and the evidences that are apparent to even those that rejected Him, will tell you these things happened.
They will even tell you that the one thing happened that could have only happened if Jesus was God. Approximately 30 years after Jesus was born and lived a perfect life (He never sinned), Jesus was crucified. He was murdered for His claims of being God and the threat that imposed on the Government. All of this happened just as the Old Testament prophesy said it would. Written hundreds of years earlier by the Prophets:
"By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence,and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief;" Isaiah 53:8-10
Evidence
More than 300 Messianic prophecies like this were made in the Old Testament and then fulfilled through Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Experts will tell us that the chances of one person fulfilling a mere eight of these prophecies are one-in-100,000,000,000,000,000. For one person to fulfill 48 of these prophecies, the number becomes staggering – one chance in 10-to-the-157th power. Add to that the 250 other prophecies, and it becomes impossible for any other person except Jesus to ever fit that particular sequence of time and events.
You see, Jesus did die but His death wasn't the end and what happened next is why you are hearing about Him. Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day and He showed Himself to over 500 witnesses. Many of them chose to die proclaiming His name in the future years of early Christianity.
Now at this point, you can tell yourself those men were just crazy or all of this was a myth, an urban legend, nothing much more than Santa Claus but you really don't believe that. You can't believe that if you are a logical person and if you are in law enforcement, investigate it yourself. After all, with what is on the line, you would be the crazy one to not look into this Man named Jesus.
So why did Jesus die? He died because it was the only way for the human race to be saved. Now at this point you may be saying that you are a good person, after all you enforce the law, you abhore evil, you do what is right. You are not the criminal. In fact, you lock up the criminals.
Well, that is where you and myself were wrong. We can't look at ourselves the way we or society looks at what is right and wrong. Compared to society in general, maybe you are a good person but you see, this Jesus was Perfect, Holy, Righteous and He looks at right and wrong differently.
In Jesus' encounter with the Rich, Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-26), He told him that he needed to keep the commandments. Have you ever lied or stolen? Have you always honored your father and mother? Have you used God's name in vain (blasphemy) Have you loved your neighbor as yourself? Has God always been the most important thing to you?
You may say, well I haven't murdered or committed adultery but Jesus said that if you are angry with your brother you are guilty (Matthew 5:21) and if you have looked at someone with lust, you have committed adultery (Matthew 5:27).
What is the point here.
Romans 3:10 says it well: "no one is good, not even one."
None of us can make it to Heaven based on our good works because in God's eyes, we have no good works. The prideful, self righteous are like the rich, young ruler(Matthew 19:16). He was futile in trying to keep the commandments to enter the Kingdom. No one can keep them and that is why a sacrifice had to be payed on the behalf of sinners.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and was murdered. He and He alone was that sacrifice. It is because of Jesus that we can have everlasting life. The alternative is Hell, a place where the "worm never dies and the fire is not quenched" Mark 9:48.
The Bible is clear that many will go to Hell.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13-14).
Solution
So what is the answer. Jesus Christ is the answer. He is the only answer. This salvation is a Gift. A free gift. You can do nothing to receive it. There is no amount of good deeds you can do; You can't walk an aisle do receive it; Saying a sinner's prayer doesn't give it to you. There is nothing you can do to receive it.
So there it is. There is the truth. I'm not here to give you a soft, candy message that makes you feel good. The Gospel has always and still is divisive.
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34
But you deserve to know the truth. Jesus did not come to earth and die so that you can get promoted, or get a nicer car, or always be healthy, or have a wonderful life. He died for sinners. On the Cross, He took the Wrath of God. He drank from that cup (Luke 22:42) and He drank every bit of the Wrath that we deserve as sinners. He was a Propitiation for Sin; He payed the price. Isn't that enough?
The question is, do you believe that?
Do you believe that Jesus is the only God and he was raised from the dead?
Do you see your sin as an abomination to a Holy God (Proverbs 8:7)?
Has God enabled you to repent of your sin, turn from your sin(Mark 1:15).
Has God opened your eyes to the mystery of Him and His Kingdom (Matthew 13:11, Ephesians 1:9)?
Do you trust everything to Jesus?
These are the words of Jesus, the Savior of the world: "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:38).
"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me' (Matthew 16:24).
How are these things possible? How can a person deny their pride, their lustful thoughts, their sin, their status in the community and believe in Someone that will literally make people hate you (John 15:18)?
Through the grace of God, a gift of God. It is through His love, His glory, for Him and only Him.
Jesus said that you must be "born again" to see the Kingdom of God and that can only happen if God gives you that gift (John 3:3).
Call out to the one true God, Jesus, The Savior that was raised from the dead and ask Him to save you (Romans 10:13).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
The Disciples of Jesus will be known, they will be different.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
They will likely not be the ones representing Christianity that you despise, that you think is a joke, that are on television asking for your money or trashing the police.
The Saints of the Savior, my Savior will be different. While still battling sin, they will be on a daily walk with the Lord and a daily process of being made more like Jesus. They will be humble, meek, mild and not of this world (1 John 2:15). They may even be a little "weird" in the eyes of others but there is no doubt that they will stand out and they will love and give and care for you.
They will care for you enough to tell you the truth and that truth may not be exactly what you want to hear but my friend, it is the truth.
Sherwood Pictures, the makers of Facing the Giants and Fireproof have announced their newest film to be released.
Courageous The Movie, will be about four Law Enforcement Officers: "Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they face danger every day. Yet when tragedy strikes close to home, these fathers are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, and their faith. From this struggle will come a decision that changes all of their lives."
We are obviously excited about this new movie. Ten-Four Ministries was very involved in the promotion of Fireproof and sponsored a showing where 200 tickets were provided to first responders. What role will Ten-Four Ministries play in this newest movie? We will play whatever role the filmakers see fit and we are excited about the outreach potential of this new movie.
“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42
What did Jesus mean in the Garden when He agonized over "this cup"? What was Jesus worried about? Was He forced to go to the Cross? What can we learn about prayer in these passages from Luke?
Join Travis Yates, Director of Ten-Four Ministries, as he preaches from The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 22, Verses 39-46.
The Fort Worth Police Department protects the 17th largest city in America. This week we ask you to pray for the Fort Worth Police Department and for Chief Jeffrey Halstead. For the next 16 weeks Ten-Four Ministries will be contacting the police chiefs in the largest 50 cities in America and presenting them with The Gospel. This is an ongoing project called The Across America Project.
Ten-Four Ministries continues to get wonderful reports in from our partner in our efforts to present the Gospel to Law Enforcement around the world. Dr. Adiel H. De Torres with Task Force Tagalitas in the Philippines. Below are the latest photos from our partnership. As the Chief of the Regional Human Resource and Doctrine Development, Lt. Col. Opena is responsible for the training and re-training of all PNP officer and personnels in the CALABARZON region. Lt. Opena has also professed faith in Jesus Christ. The Highway Patrol Group is tasked with keeping the roads of the Philippines safe. They are presented with much needed traffic safety vests and copies of Take Up The Shield. We are certainly humbled that God has provided this opportunity in the Philippines. We have an exciting announcement that will soon occur about this outreach. I look forward to passing that along to you.
This is a wonderful exposition of John 3:16 and Romans 8:28 by Pastor Doug Renee. I was present for both messages and I promise you that they will bless and encourage.
This Sunday is Orphan Sunday. Thousands of churches across the world will be discussing the need to take care of orphans. Below is the testimony of Tulsa Police Corporal Dan Ward, a Board Member with Ten-Four Ministries and leader with the Armor of God Project.
Dan's testimony about his adoption and ultimate salvation is moving. I encourage you to listen to it.
The Memphis Police Department protects the 18th largest city in America. This week we ask you to pray for the Memphis Police Department and for Director Larry A. Godwin. For the next 18 weeks Ten-Four Ministries will be contacting the police chiefs in the largest 50 cities in America and presenting them with The Gospel. This is an ongoing project called The Across America Project.
Ten-Four Ministries is humbled to have a wonderful relationship with Dr. Adiel H. De Torres with Task Force Tagalitas in the Philippines. Below are the latest photos from our partnership and the Armor of God Project. The Deputy Regional Director for Administration with the Philippine National Police Recieves 30 vests from Pastor Torres.
PSSupt. Primitivo "Jun" Tabujara receives 6 Level3A bullet-resistant vests from the Armor of God Project.
October 31, 1517, is probably not a date that you heard in History class. As Christians it is a date we should all remember and it is a date that many in America are looking at.
October 31, 1517, was the day a Monk by the name of Martin Luther nailed a document to a church door in Wittenberg. That document contained a list of 95 Theses that started the Reformation that would eventually sweep across his native German Land, over to Europe and to the entire World. What would encompass two centuries and give us the likes of John Bunyan and John Calvin, the Reformation is continuing to play an important role today.
Today, Europe has forgotten who God is and they have turned to everything secular including the worship of Darwin over Jesus Christ.
America, once considered a Christian Nation, is anything but one today. We think that Europe is an Ocean away but the fact is we are seeing more and more of what Europe is today here in America.
In the face of what we are seeing in America, we are also seeing a revival of sorts. No, nothing has been nailed on a door but we are seeing the Gospel preached today in very isolated instances like it was preached 500 years ago. In the face of an America that has legalized Abortion and so called preachers that tell us there is more than one way other than Jesus, we are seeing bold Christians and Pastors standing up for the true Gospel. John MacArthur, Paul Washer, John Piper and many others are standing up for the Gospel.
We are seeing persecution of our Pastors here in America just like what has been happening for years in Europe. A Pastor 50 miles from me was told if he kept preaching the Gospel like he was that "he wouldn't last long." Unfortunately many other pastors have softened their message to comply with the so called Christians among them. If the Pastors are being persecuted who do you think is next?
Christians, it's time to stand for the truth. You may not be called to preach on a box in the park but if you are setting in a Church that is promoting everything other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you are part of the problem.
While all of Martin Luther's statements are powerful I believe any writer places great emphasis on the first and the last thing they write. Here is what Martin Luther said first and last:
1) "When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said "Repent", He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance."
95) "And let them thus be more confident of entering heaven through many tribulations rather than through a false assurance of peace."
When the persecution and imprisonment comes the Truth of Jesus Christ will stand and the pretenders will run away. Christian, are you ready? Posted
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department protects the 19th largest city in America. This week we ask you to pray for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and for Chief Rodney Monroe. For the next 18 weeks Ten-Four Ministries will be contacting the police chiefs in the largest 50 cities in America and presenting them with The Gospel. This is an ongoing project called The Across America Project.
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